Macumba
/mɑˈkũbɐ/noun
A term used in Brazil for certain Afro-Brazilian religious practices, and sometimes, pejoratively, for magic or witchcraft.
Did you know?“Macumba” is often used loosely or disrespectfully by outsiders, but its history is tied to Afro-Brazilian religious worlds where drums, offerings, and spirits were central, not sinister.
Etymological Timeline
Kikongo / Kimbundu roots
Bantu
makumba
“A word associated with drums, ritual instruments, or religious practice in African languages of Angola and the Congo region.”
19th Century
Portuguese
macumba
“A Brazilian term that came to refer to Afro-Brazilian religious rites, ceremonies, or ritual objects.”
Late 19th–20th Century
Portuguese
macumba
“Used broadly and often pejoratively for folk magic, sorcery, or non-Catholic ritual practices in Brazil.”
Modern English
English
macumba
“A borrowed term for Afro-Brazilian ritual practice, often encountered in contexts about religion, magic, or cultural history.”